House 5 from The Block 2023 once again graced our screens in the latest episode of Open Homes Australia. Roshan and Jesse toured Eliza and Liberty’s second-place masterpiece. Roshan’s agenda was to determine the design techniques and materials selected for the house to achieve a 7-star energy rating.
It’s all in the materials…
It’s no easy task for a house to achieve a 7-star energy rating without solar installed on the roof – but the sisters managed to do it!
The material choices were the defining elements that will allow future homeowners to save money on their energy bills. Natural timber throughout the interior, coupled with wall and ceiling insulation and double-glazed windows, allows the home to retain heat in the winter and stay cool in the warmer months.
Natural light illuminates almost every square inch of the home, reducing daytime reliance on artificial lighting.
Room for improvement
The absence of solar is an unfortunate reality for 4 of 5 of The Block 2023 homes. With tight budgets and no immediate returns for the contestants, solar was an easy component to overlook. Steph and Gian of House 4, and the ultimate winners of The Block 2023, were the only team to incorporate solar. While it may not have been the winning element, it will surely be a winner for many years to come.
Whether you’re looking to save on your energy bills or boost your new or renovated home’s energy star rating, adding solar is a smart choice. In Australia, you can save an average of $400 per year for every kW of solar installed on your home. That means that a standard 6.6kW system will see a return of around $2,640 on your electricity bills each year. This means a return on investment in less than 3 years, on average!
The Block helping viewers make sustainable choices
There’s no denying that the Australian residential construction industry has gone through some stark changes over the years. Assisting the shift to sustainable practices has been The Block. For over two decades, the show has been showing Aussies how investing in quality materials will not only elevate the look of your home but boost its sustainability. Double-glazed windows have likely been at the fore of attitude changes to construction materials. So many Aussies have grown up in paper-thin homes that offer little protection from the heat or cold. A shift to insulating products allows homes to be more comfortable whilst saving on energy bills.
One easy way to change the way your home works for you is to install solar. Put your roof to work and power your home with free energy from the sun! Get FREE quotes today for solar, battery storage, EV chargers, heat pump hot water systems, and much more. Follow the button below and we’ll connect you with local installers, completely free of charge and obligation.
